Stanford's Jordan Morris gets U.S. soccer call up from Klinsmann

STANFORD -- Stanford sophomore forward Jordan Morris got his first senior national team call up Thursday as coach Jurgen Klinsmann opens the 2018 World Cup cycle with an eye toward America's youth.

Morris, the first college player Klinsmann has called since taking over the program, hopes to make his debut when the United States plays the Czech Republic on Wednesday in Prague.

Of the 22 players headed to Prague, 15 are age 24 or younger.

"We have watched Jordan through our youth national teams and in the Development Academy for the last couple of years, and he is a very promising player," Klinsmann said in a statement. "We saw him during our two weeks at Stanford for the World Cup preparation camp, and also from his play with U-23 team in the Bahamas, and we felt like this was a good opportunity to introduce him to the senior team."

Morris, a member of the Seattle Sounders FC academy, hopes to become the first college player to make a full national team appearance since Ante Razov in 1995.

"It is quite an achievement for Jordan and one I'm sure he will cherish," Cardinal coach Jeremy Gunn said in a statement.

Other promising youngsters called into camp are goalkeeper Cody Cropper (21) of Southampton, midfielder Emerson Hyndman (18) of Fulham, and forwards Joe Gyau (21) of Borussia Dortmund and Rubio Rubin (18) of FC Utrecht in Holland.

"When you start a new cycle, you want to see as many new players and young players breaking in as possible," Klinsmann said. "Obviously, you always respect your established players and you always want to give them the space to continue their good work, but you also want to use that opportunity going forward to introduce young blood into the program."